Degradation Pathway Modeling of PV Minimodule Variants with Different Packaging Materials Under Indoor Accelerated Exposures

Venkat, Sameera Nalin; Liu, Jiqi; Wegmueller, Jakob; Yu, Ben X. J.; Gould, Brian; Li, Xinjun; Jaubert, Jean-Nicolas; Braid, Jennifer L.; Bruckman, Laura S.; French, Roger H.

doi:10.1109/pvsc43889.2021.9518926

Cited by 7 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…The purpose of this study is to compare PV minimodules that differ in packaging strategies. The goal is to analyze which types of PV minimodules undergo substantial power loss at the end of the exposure cycle and also gain insights into active degradation modes Nalin Venkat (2021). From this study, we observe that corrosion is the primary cause of degradation in the glass/backsheet PV minimodules.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…In each minimodule, transparent encapsulant was the front encapsulant layer and the rear encapsulant was of the UV-cutoff type. The encapsulant and backsheet materials were supplied by Cybrid Technologies Inc. At the end of fabrication of minimodules, five junction boxes were fixed on each minimodule to enable cell-level measurements and module-level measurements Nalin Venkat (2021). In this work, cell-level measurements were used for statistical and netSEM analysis.…”

Section: Fabrication Of 4-cell Pv Minimodule Variantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mean imputation involves substituting the mean of the cell measurements in place of the missing data point. When the imputed values were found to be identical for two missing cell measurements, normally distributed values by using mean and standard deviation were obtained using the qnorm() function in R Nalin Venkat (2021). Due to the control in manufacturing and consistency of input materials in PERC cell fabrication, we assume that there is no major distinction among as-fabricated solar cells.…”

Section: Data Processingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As the models have been constructed for PV modules under specific exposure conditions, they rely on fitting parameters and choosing non-linear terms that would best explain the trend. Such approaches are based on simplified assumptions, do not allow for generalization, and do not correlate to real-world exposure conditions, in which multiple degradation modes occur simultaneously Bruckman et al (2013b); Nalin Venkat (2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…95% CIs, which are based on the 1-sample t-test, can determine if a variant is durable or degrading at the end of exposure. 83.4% CIs, which are based on the 2-sample t-test, are indicative of difference between two means Knol et al (2011);Nalin Venkat (2021). In order to determine if two samples behave similarly or differently (based on degree of CI overlap) at the end of exposure, inference of eye method by Cumming and Finch (2005) has been utilized in this study Nalin Venkat (2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Statistical analysis and degradation pathway modeling of photovoltaic minimodules with varied packaging strategies

Venkat

Liu

et al. 2023

Front. Energy Res.

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Degradation pathway models constructed using network structural equation modeling (netSEM) are used to study degradation modes and pathways active in photovoltaic (PV) system variants in exposure conditions of high humidity and temperature. This data-driven modeling technique enables the exploration of simultaneous pairwise and multiple regression relationships between variables in which several degradation modes are active in specific variants and exposure conditions. Durable and degrading variants are identified from the netSEM degradation mechanisms and pathways, along with potential ways to mitigate these pathways. A combination of domain knowledge and netSEM modeling shows that corrosion is the primary cause of the power loss in these glass/backsheet PV minimodules. We show successful implementation of netSEM to elucidate the relationships between variables in PV systems and predict a specific service lifetime. The results from pairwise relationships and multiple regression show consistency. This work presents a greater opportunity to be expanded to other materials systems.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Fabrication Of 4-cell Pv Minimodule Variantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Data Processingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Statistical analysis and degradation pathway modeling of photovoltaic minimodules with varied packaging strategies

Venkat

Liu

et al. 2023

Front. Energy Res.

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Quantifying the influence of encapsulant and backsheet composition on PV‐power and electrical degradation

Brune

Ortner

Eder

et al. 2023

Progress in Photovoltaics

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Although the technical and economic properties of the standard polymer photovoltaic (PV) materials (ethylene‐vinyl acetate (EVA) encapsulant and fluorine‐containing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) backsheet) meet the basic technical requirements, more sustainable polyolefin‐based encapsulants and backsheets have been developed. These new polyolefin materials have to prove their performance compared to the established standard materials in terms of the electrical performance of the modules and in terms of reliability. The long‐term stability of the new materials is tested and evaluated using accelerated aging tests and degradation modelling. Based on experimental results, the influence of the type of encapsulant and backsheet (i) on the electrical output power of PV test modules and (ii) on the aging‐related electrical and material degradation under accelerated stress tests was estimated using statistical modelling approaches. First results showing significant effects for encapsulant, backsheet and the combination of both on the initial power output are presented. In general, modules with polypropylene‐based backsheets have a higher initial power (PMPP) than those with PET‐based backsheets, with the combination of thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) encapsulation material and polyolefin backsheet being superior to the other material combinations. A comparison of the material‐dependent degradation rates obtained from the mixed‐effects models clearly shows that the degradation rate upon damp heat exposure for modules with EVA is significantly larger than that using polyolefin encapsulants. The derived relations aim to provide valuable input for innovative material developments as well as predictive maintenance specifications.

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Understanding Photovoltaic Module Degradation: An Overview of Critical Factors, Models, and Reliability Enhancement Methods

Diallo,

Melhaoui,

Rafi

et al. 2023

E3S Web of Conf.

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Photovoltaic (PV) modules, though reputed for reliability and long lifespans of 25-30 years, commonly experience gradual performance degradation influenced by varying environmental factors. This literature review explores the degradation of PV modules through in-depth analysis of failure modes, characterization techniques, analytical models, and mitigation strategies. A range of failure modes seen in PV modules are discussed, including interconnect breakage, cell cracks, metallization corrosion, delamination, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) discoloration, Potential-Induced Degradation (PID), Light-Induced Degradation (LID), and other. Environmental stresses like temperature, humidity, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and dust accumulation play significant roles in accelerating almost all degradation modes. Dust is a crucial factor in Middle East/North Africa (MENA) regions. Studying degradation modes under real-world conditions remains challenging, requiring extensive field testing to examine defect frequency, evolution rate, and impacts on energy production. PID is a major degradation mode requiring modeling and correction techniques to improve PV efficiency and lifespan. However, PID models are often limited to specific conditions, posing applicability challenges. Characterization methods like visual inspection, current-voltage (I-V),various imaging methods, and resonance ultrasonic vibrations (RUV) enable effective evaluation of degradation effects on module properties. Analytical models facilitate study of particular degradation modes and prediction of lifetimes under diverse conditions. Key factors influencing PV degradation include weather variations, materials quality, design parameters, PID, and hot spots. Protective coatings, encapsulation improvements, and module cleaning help mitigate degradation and prolong lifespan. A comprehensive understanding of mechanisms through integrated experimentation and modeling is critical for performance improvements. By reviewing major degradation phenomena, characterization techniques, analytical models, and mitigation strategies, this study promotes PV durability and sustainability. Significant knowledge gaps persist regarding module behavior under varied climate conditions and synergistic effects between different degradation mechanisms. Extensive field testing across diverse environments paired with advanced multiphysics modeling can provide valuable insights to guide technological enhancements for robust, long-lasting PV systems worldwide.

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Degradation Pathway Modeling of PV Minimodule Variants with Different Packaging Materials Under Indoor Accelerated Exposures

Cited by 7 publications

References 11 publications

Statistical analysis and degradation pathway modeling of photovoltaic minimodules with varied packaging strategies

Statistical analysis and degradation pathway modeling of photovoltaic minimodules with varied packaging strategies

Quantifying the influence of encapsulant and backsheet composition on PV‐power and electrical degradation

Understanding Photovoltaic Module Degradation: An Overview of Critical Factors, Models, and Reliability Enhancement Methods

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